Needling hits a nerve for Akhtar

Page Tools

Shoaib Akhtar at the MCG: his coach says criticism will only stir the paceman to big things in Sydney.Photo: Vince Caligiuri

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has thanked Ricky Ponting for
stirring up his temperamental fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar ahead of
the third Test in Sydney.

As the Pakistan camp waited for more news on its wounded,
Woolmer defended Akhtar against Ponting's suggestion, reiterated by
a baffled Justin Langer yesterday, that his commitment to the
Pakistan cause had waned towards the end of Australia's nine-wicket
victory in the Boxing Day Test.

But the Australians may have endangered their safety further by
needling Akhtar before the series is over, even if they have
already won it. "He's the one bowler that the Australian batsmen
know can decimate them, in terms of his pace. We have to remember
that, and I'm happy that Ricky is stirring him up. I think it's
good," Woolmer said.

"As far as I'm concerned, Shoaib showed a lot of guts during the
game and at a particular stage of the game he was just shattered,
basically. He bowled more than he normally does because there were
so few bowlers available. He gave it his all for a little bit, and
then I think he was probably just tired. To criticise Shoaib is a
little bit unfair, but Ricky Ponting is entitled to his
opinion."

Akhtar's only problem, Woolmer said, was that he so stubbornly
stuck to his 40-metre run-up in the beginning.

"Most fast bowlers hunt in pairs and when one part of the pair
is gone it's very difficult to expect one person to shoulder
everything. That's why I think Shoaib should develop a short run-up
and generate the same sort of pace," Woolmer said. "Running in so
far, you are not going to be able to come back easily unless you're
a triathlete and you have that sort of fitness. Shoaib has been
working very hard on this trip, and he needs a partner."

The Australians were amazed at the lack of pressure applied by
Akhtar as Australia achieved a target on the fourth day that, while
not huge, could still have caused problems with enough heat from
the bowlers.

As far as I'm concerned, Shoaib showed a lot of guts during the game. BOB WOOLMER

They now know paceman Mohammad Sami was struggling with a heel
injury, but remain puzzled as to why Akhtar seemed to bowl as
though having conceded that Australia would win easily, halving his
run-up after lunch when Australia was 1-15.

Langer, the man to fall before lunch, noted that Akhtar's body
language was "different to every time I had played against
him".

"I don't know whether he had niggles or was tired from the first
innings or they were saving him up for Sydney - but anyway, Sydney
comes and the series is over," said Langer. "The reality is, in his
side he is the man. They take a lot from him. He knows he has to
step up every time he bowls. Sometimes he seems to thrive on it as
you would expect. Facing someone like him on a wicket which is up
and down like Melbourne is an ugly prospect.

"Because of that, I thought if they got two or three early
wickets they were some sort of chance. If we had got into a similar
situation we would have had a red-hot dip to make it as hard as
possible for them."

Pakistan has not given up on revenge in Sydney even though
Woolmer concedes the squad's goal throughout the series has been
steady improvement. "We have to be brutally honest. We just want to
try to be better than we have in each Test match and each game
we've played over here," he said.

"I'm not going to say we're going to be any better or any worse
than we were in Melbourne, but we've taken a lot of positives out
of this last game."

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq remain in
doubt for the dead rubber in Sydney. Inzamam's back has improved
with treatment from a chiropractor and Razzaq has been released
from hospital after blood tests failed to find a reason for his
nausea and dizziness. Both are considered 60-40 chances to
play.

Sami and Shoaib Malik, who has split webbing in his right hand,
have been ruled out, and the experienced leg-spinning all-rounder
Shahid Afridi will come into contention. "We'll certainly have to
have a look at him," Woolmer said.

Pacemen Mohammad Khalil, who played in the first Test, and Rana
Naved-ul-Hasan, 12th man in Melbourne, will be considered to
replace Sami.